Club Volleyball Review For Northwest Juniors Volleyball Club
Posted: Thursday, April 22, 2010
by April Chapple
Volleyball Voices Inc.
As a longtime member of the Puget Sound Region the Northwest Juniors Volleyball Club has managed to grow into the largest junior volleyball club in the Northwest while setting a very high standard for other junior club programs in the state of Washington to attain.
Founded in 1972, NWJrs not only offers programs to the junior volleyball club but offers and extensive number of events specifically to all youth throughout the summer. Programs include summer volleyball camps where entrants receive a free Baden volleyball (Baden and Adidas are the club's sponsors) if they sign up before May 31, and a series of outdoor programs with the mission to encourage entrants to get outside and play volleyball. Events include a beach volleyball clinic, a four-against-four grass league, a two-against-two and four-against-four beach volleyball tournament series and the Washington State Games which will have a grass volleyball tournament, and will offer junior volleyball players the chance to participate in a six-on-six and doubles tournaments.
One-day tournaments like the NW Juniors Adidas Classics and the Baden Classics as well as the multi-day inter-regional events such as the two-day Martin Luther King Tournament in January, the three-day Adidas NW Juniors President's Day Tournament in February, the two-day Spring Classic Tournament in March and the Northwest Juniors Memorial Day Weekend Tournament in May offer many opportunities for area junior players to touch a ball, learn the game, compete and play.
You would think that this would fill any junior programs plate, but I haven't yet pointed out the outdoor volleyball programs available. NW Juniors traditionally hosts a long outdoor schedule of events which include a growing number of beach volleyball tournaments for juniors and college athletes.
For 2010, NWJrs has 18 teams which serve the Eastside, Edmonds and Kent Areas and are comprised of elite teams: one 17s, one 16s, two 15s and one 14s and for local and regional - one 17s, two 16s, three 15s, three 14s, two 13s, two 12s.
Director Tony Miranda's bio reads like a "you name it and I've done it" list of junior volleyball coaching experience. Former Head Volleyball Coach Bellevue Community College (2001 - 2004) 2002 NWAACC Coach of the Year, 2001 and 2002 NWAACC Northern Division Coach of the Year (124-76 overall record at Bellevue CC). Two years as assistant coach for Seattle Pacific University (1999 & 2000). Six years Head Varsity High School Coach (1993-1998), former Asst. Coach Highline CC. 17 Years club volleyball coach, CAP 1 & IMPACT Certified, Gold Medal Squared systems coach, Over 10 years camp experience; guest coach, University of Washington and University of Oregon Volleyball Camps. Puget Sound Region Junior Girls Program Director for over 5 years.
The Northwest Juniors Volleyball Club is located at 15821 NE 8th Street in Bellevue, Washington.
April Chapple, is the "Five Quick Tips" columnist for the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Coaching Volleyball magazine and the creator of the volleyball news hub Volleyball Voices.com, where you'll find more club volleyball reviews .
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I (as well as many other parents) have found NW Juniors to be at best a mediocre club. They hire young coaches who may have playing experience but not much if any coaching experience. NW Juniors and the coaches often change pratice times and/or places and do not contact the players or their parents. Sometimes the coaches do not show up! The coaches I have come into contact with have been moody and swear in front of the kids. They seem to have limited experience in dealing with young people. They are usually players that have been hired off of Tony Miranda's community college teams. Unfortunatly you don't find alot of this out until you have plopped down tons of money for your child to play (non refundable). This has been a disappointing experience for our family. It seems to be just a business to them to make a profit and run as many people through their club as possible.
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